James h



s. HJGRAHAM.

' METHOD OF MAKING SPOKE NIPPLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-3,1917J 1,322, 106. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT orinoa g JAMES H. GRAHAM, 0F TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN'OR TO TOREINGTON COMPANY, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed October 3, 1917. Serial No. 194,539.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Litres H. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Torrington, in the county of Litchiield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Spoke-Nipples, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates to improvements in methods of making spoke nipples.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of making nipples of this charac ter from a round bar in one operation or in a series of operations, by one or more plungers or punches when held in the same die. This method in one operation forms the squared portion on the outer end of the nipple, the head on the opposite end and also simultaneously forms the kerf in the head, thus obtaining a great saving in the manufacture thereof and at the same time producing a perfect nipple.

In the accompanying draWings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a round bar or slug from which a nipple is forged in one operation, under my improved method; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a nipple produced from the bar or slug shown in Fig. 1.

In the usual manufacture of nipples of this character, a round bar or slug is used which is of a length'slightly greater than the completed article and ot a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the body of the nipple and the head is forged thereon, slightly shortening the blank. Atter this operation, a portion of the shank at the outer end is slabbed to form the poly, onal ortion necessary onthe nipple, all of which is well understood.

This manner of producing nipples requires a number of separate operations, such as heading,slabbing and slotting, thus adding considerably to the cost of the nipple.

In my improved method of making nipples, I employ a round bar or slug 1, which is the same size throughout its entire length and of a diameter equal to the diameter of the completed nipple and slightly longer. The said slug or bar is forced into a die by a plunger, which die has a rectangular portion adjacent its rear end which contracts the outer end of the blank or slug causing the metal at that point to flow inwardly and longitudinally of the blank forming a plurality of the slabbed or flattened portions 2, up to the point 3. The innerend of the slug 1 engages a centering stop or other means Within the die and stops the inward movement thereof and centers the same for the after internal screw-threading operation. The continued movement of the plunger flows or forces the metal outwardly and longitudinally of the blank to form a slight head on the slug if desired, or the plunger may be so shaped as to complete the head 4: and form the kerf 5 therein, thus the nipple complete, eXce t for drilling and tapping may be forme by the single operation of forcing a slug into a die, or may be formed by a double blow, the first blow by means of the internal shape of the die forming the slabbed portion by pressing back the material and the punch, according to its shape, forming the completed kerfed head, or only a slight head.

It will be understood that where I have referred to the end of the nipple as squared, it means that it is slabbed as desired, whether with two, three, four or more slabbed sides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I The process of forming 'a nipple from a blank having a cylindrical cross section substantially equal to the cylindrical cross section of the finished nipple and of greater length than said nipple, consisting in flow ing or forcing metal inwardly and length wise of said blank to form flattened sides at one portion, forcing metal outwardly and lengthwise of said blank to form a head on said nipple at a second portion, and retainin substantially the original size and shape 0 the blank at another portion thereof.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- JAMES H. GRAHAM.

"Witnesses D. HILDRETH, E. Mine. 

